Game Three: Baby Steps

The first two games of the season have not gone according to plan, to say the least. The Yankees have been outplayed by the Red Sox in pretty much every facet of the game (hitting, pitching, defense) and are a well-deserved 0-2 to start the year. Things could always be worse, I guess.

For the sake of lowering expectations, there are two things I would like to see the Yankees do in tonight’s series finale against Boston. One, it would be cool if they weren’t done four runs after two innings. That one seems simple enough, yet they were unable to do it Monday or Wednesday. Two, it would be even cooler if they actually held a lead at some point. Remember, they didn’t hold a single lead in the ALCS last year, so you have to go back to Game Five of the ALDS for the last time the Yankees had more runs than their opponent.

If they do one of those two things, I guess I’ll be happy. If they do both, then I’ll be even happier. If they do all that and manage to win … well, I don’t want to get greedy now. Here’s the slightly shaken-up lineup…

And on the mound for his first April start since 2010, left-hander Andy Pettitte.

It’s cold once again in New York, but it’s not as brutally freezing as it was last night. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05pm ET and the game can be seen on YES locally and MLB Network nationally. Try to enjoy.

Time for the new guys to buck up. I have faith they’ll do stuff tonight. 5-2 win maybe?

Robinson Tilapia

WRONG!

4-2, bitch.

forensic

Not at all shocking that it took all of one game for the lefties at the top of the order to drive Girardi nuts and start messing with stuff already.

And it’s also nice to see that there is absolutely no plan in place for the catchers, other than blindly swapping them every game no matter what. I’m sure that’ll really help one of them hit moderately well. Game 1, Cervelli gets a hit so he immediately sits game 2 despite having experience and success against Buchholz while Stewart has never faced him. Now game 3, Cervelli has never seen Dempster while Stewart at least has. Now, far be for me to ask for Stewart to start any game, but at least use something other than every other day to make damn decisions.

Winter

I can understand batting Cano second, but not with Cervelli batting ninth. Put Nunez ninth as a “second leadoff hitter” (god know how much everyone loves those), or Ichiro or something. I just don’t like the idea of the hitter batting two spots above our best (and only elite) hitter being a complete no-show at the plate.

Granted Ichiro is significantly better vs. RHP, but that would be a reason to try to get him more AB’s, not less.

jjyank

Hm, not sure how I feel about Cano in the two slot. Let’s see how it goes.

hogsmog

I AM SO SURE ABOUT THIS.

jjyank

Hope you’re right.

Adam

Can Big Show bat cleanup?

jjyank

Whoa, new MLB.TV interface for the season. I didn’t see it last night, so this may not be new to some of you. I like it. I don’t have to scroll down the list of games to find the team marked as my “favorite” anymore. Yay progress.

Winter

Maybe I’m just remembering it wrong (or used to the new one from watching spring training), but in what way is the interface different? I don’t notice any change.

Again, I may just be used to the new one.

jjyank

It’s different for spring training. Maybe it’s the xbox app that’s different, because that’s what I use. I logged on and there was an update to download, and then it was different.

Basically it used to just have all the games listed on a horizontal line, and I had to scroll through to click one. Now it defaults the Yankee game to a window about 1/4 of the screen and has additional info on the sides, like news, highlights, schedules, and lists of other games. I can just click the window of the Yankee game to full screen it. Much better layout.

jjyank

It was different *than* spring training. Sorry if that language was confusing. I watched ST games through MLB.TV on my xbox, and it’s different now.

Winter

Probably the xbox interface. PC is unchanged :(

valgoth

or chokeslam a redsox player

Robinson Tilapia

Or turn face/heel 30 times.

YankeesJunkie

Seeing the day where Travis Hafner hitting clean up is just scary. Tex, Granderson, and Jeter please come back soon! However, Pettitte locks down the Sox tonight and the Yanks win.

True fact, I was not capable of watching games for the second half of the season so I did get memorized by his performance.

Pat D

RIP Roger Ebert.

Ruby Rich

I like Cano hitting 2nd in this lineup. Might as well get him as many AB’s as possible because nobody in front of him will ever get on base anyway.

Gardner
Cano
Youk
Hafner
Wells
Overbay
Cervelli
Ichiro
Nunez

trr

I’m OK with this.

Wil Nieves #1 Fan

That picture of Joba and Big Show is awesome.

jjyank

Just thinking about the lineup, I think I’d rather have Hafner hit behind Cano against RHP.

Pat D

Don’t know if I’m a fan of the lineup tinkering. Hitting Ichiro 6th is like saying you don’t expect him to do anything.

Crespo

Might as well get Boesch in there.

Pat D

Gotta love the schedule, too. Night game today. 1:00 game in Detroit tomorrow.

cheddar

Looks like Big Show is getting shorter, the same way his father Andre did.

Pat D

Not sure if serious.

cheddar

Dead serious. He’s not as tall as he used to be.

Pat D

I meant about him being Andre’s son.

Robinson Tilapia

It was his original gimmick.

One of my favorite NWO moments was, long after the whole “son of Andre” thing got dropped, Scott Hall looked him dead in the face during a promo and asked, “yo, you’re not really Andre’s son, are you?”

Great stuff.

Pat D

I know it was his original gimmick. I wanted to make sure he knew that he really wasn’t.

I remember Hall asking him that. Classic.

cheddar

IIRC, he replied something like “Dude… don’t go there.”

mrdbag

Great, another game with a half empty stadium. Sigh.

Slugger27

i think half is overestimating it. legends is 80% empty and upper deck is mostly empty.

Robinson Tilapia

Two minutes into the game. OMGZ.

Pat D

I just want to share this story. My college advisor is a big Red Sox fan. I had a meeting with him on Tuesday. He said that he watched the game on ESPN Monday and he thought they made way too big a deal of Bradley. He agreed that Bradley did nothing special and it reeked of bias.

Just thought I’d share that.

jjyank

Yay rationality.

YankeesJunkie

I saw him at College World Series a couple years back, and the one thing that popped out was his arm was a cannon.

Robinson Tilapia

I just stick to little cute blondes as my Sox fan friends.

Pat D

I withhold the first thought that comes to mind.

Mike HC

You just know Pettitte is going to stop the bleeding tonight. We have seen him do it over and over again.

Pat D

Andy Pettitte is a stahting pitchahhhhhh!!!!! He’s the stoppahhhhh!!!!

Pat D

Victorino is really annoying me. The fact that he’s the only guy I know of who sports the two-flap helmet doesn’t help.

It always amused me that my favorite player Dave Winfield was the last guy who got to wear a no-flap helmet.

bobtaco

Choo!

YankeesJunkie

The Yankees strength this year, especially with Granderson being back is going to be the OF defense in their capabilities to grab flyballs and may be especially beneficial to Hughes.

Mike HC

Swisher would have caught that too, but it would have ended with him tripping and then gracefully playing it off into a roll.

Crespo

Wow.

Anderson Silva

thanks Victorino

Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)

That was ….ummmm….interesting.

Mike HC

And Cervelli got a nice elbow to the throat in for good measure as well.

Eddard

And that’s the type of energy and hustle that we need from our C. Frankie should be playing 80% of the games.

Slugger27

he probably will. everyone here acts like theres been a quote saying he wont be the primary catcher. if there is, i havent seen it.

Ron Hassey

Hustle? He almost got caught dogging it picking up his passed ball. He’s lucky if anything.

Pat D

Cervelli giveth and taketh.

jjyank

Wow. Was not expecting that to happen. Boo, Cervelli, yay Cervelli!

Luis Castillo (Not the one who dropped the ball)

Nice Cervy, you even mannaged to hit that punk in the face.
That ball you let pass… not nice.

Mike HC

It caught everyone napping because it would such a shockingly stupid attempt.

Eddard

If they can’t hit Dumpster we might as well forfeit the rest of the games until the injured stars return. This is a prime chance to turn things around against a bad pitcher.

Luis Castillo (Not the one who dropped the ball)

Yeah, I cannot think of a worse pitcher than Dempster… Oh wait I got one; DAVID PHELPS.

Winter

Heads up, Overbay and Nunez are flipped compared to Mike’s lineup.

Mike HC

Here we go … can’t help but feel this our game

Mike HC

now I’m not so sure

Eddard

Finally Gardner gets on. Now let him fly, Joe. Don’t sit back and wait for the 3 run HR.

Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)

I’m sure he has a green light.
Whether he uses it is another matter.

Ron Hassey

Nice call.

Mike HC

Joe let him fly, alright

YankeesJunkie

Did Robinson Cano really start from the bottom? How will (should) this effect his contract? Who actually thinks I am serious? Who gets my joke? Who cares?

jjyank

What did I miss? Since when does Cano get shifted like that?

Mike HC

Sox have done it all series

jjyank

I didn’t watch last night and I guess I didn’t notice on Monday. Seems weird. I mean it worked there, but Cano can hit the other way.

Mike HC

Yea, that was basically everyones reaction both in the booth and in the comments.

Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)

Usually in the air when he does.

Anderson Silva

But it seems he only does it in the air. It’s actually a really smart shift and Robbie hasn`t been able to beat it so far.

Crespo

They’re trying to get him to just hit singles because no one else in the Yankees can do anything.

Tom

Wally Pipp Overbay?

Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)

Don’t think that’s CODY Ross, Michael.

Pat D

Sigh.

Luis Castillo (Not the one who dropped the ball)

YAY!! Free outs!!

Luis Castillo (Not the one who dropped the ball)

With one of the best hitters on earth at the plate!!

Winter

I dunno, given how the last two games have been somewhat lackluster offensively, I don’t mind trying to jumpstart the scoring. Sucks that he was thrown out, but he’s one of the fastest runners in the league (possibly the fastest) and I don’t mind sending him.

Luis Castillo (Not the one who dropped the ball)

Come On Andy do with this punk what you did with Harper last year

Luis Castillo (Not the one who dropped the ball)

Oh shit, reply fail.

BrienTaylorsRookieCard

double sigh

Mike HC

Middlebrooks has range all the way to rightfield! He is going to break UZR!

BrienTaylorsRookieCard

lol

Pistol pete

Gardner flatfooted and Cano won’t go the other way so now we have 2 outs and nobody on, great.

WhittakerWalt

I have a sinking feeling Robbie’s going to spend the entire season just getting himself out. When did he become pull-happy?

Mike HC

If anybody can beat that god damned shift, you gotta think it is Robbie.

WhittakerWalt

He should be able to. He has no problem going the other way. He could rack up base hits to left from now until the cows come home. So why pull a weak grounder to the right side?

Mike HC

It will be interesting to see what the other teams do with him. But I still think Robbie can adjust given a little time.

Crespo

The Red Sox know that they can let Cano hit singles all day and that no one else in the Yankees lineup will make them pay for it.

Mike HC

Good point.

WhittakerWalt

I guess. I just don’t like seeing a smart hitter ground into the shift with that much regularity.

BrienTaylorsRookieCard

anyone know what his spray chart looks like? got to be better than tex’s.

– Brett the Jet doing his best “non fast white guy” impression tonight. Huzzah!
– when the Real Team shows up, they are going to absolutely sodomize Dempster. This lineup is what it is and they have beat him up a bit… July series is gonna be some shit.
– Fuck Jose Iglecias
– Andy Pettitte is a god.

– Joe Castiglione (WEEI Red Sox announcer) to open the game:
“And here comes FOURTY year old Andy Pettitte, who was JUST 5-4 last season on an INJURY PLAGUED 2012″

He apparently forgot to mention the steroids and the Herpes outbreaks, but outside of that he pretty much covered the talking points… Cock sucker

MannyGeee

OH SHIT I forgot. I am loving Nuñez if for no other reason he LEGIT can’t keep that helmet on.

jjyank

Haha. Welcome to the thread. It’s a lot more fun because…the Yankees are winning. So, no trolls.

sangreal

there goes another helmet

sangreal

…and again on the steal

http://twitter.com/Paddock9652 Stratman9652

David Ross has a ridiculous arm.

Eddard

Another 2 hit game from Nuney. I wonder when he’ll start getting his due.

jjyank

When he doesn’t erase it immediately, maybe.

WhittakerWalt

Your crush on Nuney is embarrassing.

ThatstheMelkyMesaWaysa

Someone probably told Nunez that he could become Willie Mays if his helmet fell off a lot. Somebody was lying.

Pat D

Well, that’s nice. Glad both outfielders thought it was out.

Preston

Ichiro was just jogging and watching it, that pissed me off a little bit.

https://twitter.com/KramerIndustry Kramerica Industries

So close to making through seven scoreless.

And it had to be JBJ again. Ugh.

Eddard

Well that wasn’t a good pitch at all. Get out of this and we can get to Drob and Mo if we need them.

jjyank

Fuck you, JBJ. I was getting really close to catching my fantasy opponent in ERA.

Vern Sneaker

A f-ing pitching clinic.

Anthony

Yay for the Yanks (and Pettite) making me feel slightly better for this season.

On a completely unrelated note, I found myself looking at Stephen Strasburg’s stats from last season (writing a preview for school newspaper)…. he had an 11.1 SO/9 in 160 innings. That’s got to correct this season, no? I’m wondering if that’ll affect his other numbers (ERA, WHIP).

Bryan

I don’t think so. He is more like Verlander in that his stuff gets better as the game wears on. He only struck out three in his first start but I don’t think he will have a SO/9 less than 9. So I guess a little bit of a regression, but definitely not by much. His stuff is nasty.

Anthony

Yea, I thought so, what you say definitely sounds reasonable. Above 9 is still pretty impressive.

Tom

1 more inning for Andy?

With MLB conveniently scheduling a day game for tomorrow, it would be nice to hold one of Ro/Mo back.

Tom

oops… not meant as a reply.

Cool Lester Smooth

You’re right. He faded towards the end of last season because it was the most he had ever pitched.

He should be better this season.

Anthony

I do remember some talk that he was flaming out towards the end. That’s probably why his ERA was above 3 (barely). Maybe the Nats did make the right choice, although I definitely didn’t agree last year.

Eddard

That’s why Gardner should be the permanent CF. Granderson can adapt to LF. Having Gardner in CF makes the whole outfield better defensively.

Winter

Yes, but will the runs saved by the defensive change make up for the runs lost while Granderson is out of the lineup learning a new position?

http://twitter.com/Paddock9652 Stratman9652

Andy Mother Fucking Pettitte.

Ron

Thanks maimi clinic

Eddard

That’s why he should start 80% of the games. Chris Stewart can’t do that.

Barry

Cervelli FTW!! HAHA

Bryan

Who says the Yankees have no power?????

ThatstheMelkyMesaWaysa

Gardner and Cervelli in the same game? No. Way.

jjyank

CERVIIIII

Dela G

The Cisco Kid!

Barry

That’s chapter 1,
would you like to have chapter 2?
You better, you son of a bitch, I know the way.

jjyank

+ infinity for that reference.

Barry

Couldn’t help it, saw the Cisco kid and had to run with it. Plus it fits, it always does.

jjyank

Top three favorite bands. Good shit there.

Get Phelps Up

That landed in A-Rod territory.

Chip

They put a steroid shop in left field? I suppose that explains some of the power we’re seeing today

Vern Sneaker

I need to get to my eye doctor immediately.

Winter

#TooManyHomers…

BigBlueAL

I know its early but Ive really liked the at-bats Cervelli has had so far this season.

Chip

What……the…….hell?

Crespo

Haha cone, blEEchers

Ka “Meme” Abdul Jabbar

TOO MANY HOMERZ!!!!!!!

Tom

Gardner HR, Cervelli HR…

That’s it I’m buying a Power Ball ticket!

jjyank

Jeez. The Yanks are winning, and that’s awesome, but the speed element seems to be hurting them tonight. Gardner caught stealing, Nunez caught stealing, and now Gardner out trying to stretch a hit. Maybe not be THAT aggressive.

Chip

Took 2 on-line throws and 2 great snags by the shortstop to get them stealing. The Gardner thing I’m ok with, he’d have made it if he didn’t hesitate out of the box

jjyank

I know. Just saying. It hasn’t helped them tonight.

Chip

Yeah, I wasn’t meaning to belittle your point. The running game is great when its working and infuriating when you keep handing the other team outs

t

thats 2 hits the shift have taking from cano tonight

MannyGeee

Got to say, David Ross man… Woulda loved to see him in Pinstripes. The problem with the defensive catcher that can’t hit is that unless they are either at the Molina/Ross level, they will disappoint…

Ka “Meme” Abdul Jabbar

But,

OUR defensive catcher hits bombs!!!

JRod

I’m going to take the short sample tonight and run wild with it. What the hell, all the pessimists do. This team can hit. Cervelli is going to force the legion of absurd doubters to eat their words.

ClusterDuck

Speaking of catchers and short samples, I believe Russell Martin is hitless in three games.

http://twitter.com/Paddock9652 Stratman9652

I come back and Cervelli has homered? What the hell is going on tonight?

Chip

Cervelli didn’t homer, Cervelli HOMERED. I’ll make the bold prediction that he will never in his life hit a ball that far again

https://twitter.com/KramerIndustry Kramerica Industries

Iglesias again? Are you fucking kidding me?

This is Ciriaco shit.

Vern Sneaker

Uh, what’s this , Girardi? Are u nuts?

jjyank

I probably would have put D-Rob in, but it’s not nuts. Andy’s under 90 pitches.

Preston

Worked out well enough.

jjyank

Indeed. I only would have done it because D-Rob could probably use the work and Andy had a couple hard hit balls the previous inning, but the pitch count was excellent, so I don’t second guess it much.

Reuben Sierra’s Chains

Nope.

Cool Lester Smooth

Gardner and Cervelli homer in the same game?

I bet that doesn’t happen again this season.

Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)

Gardner’s last MLB HR: 9/6/11
Cervelli’s last MLB HR: 9/6/11

What are the odds?

Barry

2 in a million?

Cool Lester Smooth

Wow, haha

They’re fantastically low, I’m sure

Get Phelps Up

That was the rainy game against the Orioles that started at like midnight IIRC.

Anthony

Haha wow kudos for finding.

Chip

My goodness, how many stupid little dinky hits are they going to get in this series?

Vern Sneaker

Whew!

Barry

I have a man crush on Andy Pettitte and I don’t even want to say no homo.

Laura Pettitte

*glares*

Barry

jealous biatch

Robinson Tilapia

We’re family here. Be yourself, Barry.

Tom

Wow… that was an impressive turn. Ellsbury can get down the line with the best of them.

Bryan

If Andy were to make the HOF…not saying he will just IF…I demand his bust be of his glove in front of his face only showing his eyes and passion staring you down. No other way.

MannyGeee

Also, Nuñez has really impressed defensively.

Chip

If he keeps this up, he’s going to end up being at least a part time starter when Jeter comes back. He’s got the range to be great at short and the bat is definitely above average for a shortstop

Tito Francona

Give that man a beer! And some fried chicken.

jjyank

My hat tips for you, Andy. Brilliant.

Get Phelps Up

Andy Pettitte is the man.

Cool Lester Smooth

Now how about Mo for the save.

Robinson Tilapia

I love this game. This is Yankee baseball.

Barry

That and I don’t have HDTV box in my room so I’ve got an old school picture with letterboxes, bringing me back to the 90s.

Crespo

Vernon Wells aka Craig Wilson

Pat D

As I cue up Enter Sandman…

Pat D

Though I still insist he should switch to the Undertaker WrestleMania XXVI/Johnny Cash “Ain’t No Grave” entrance.

Pat D

Oops, WrestleMania XXVII I meant.

DERRPP

From the unnecessary corrections department.

Pat D

I’m a perfectionist.

jjyank

Playing it on my stereo as I type.

Barry

Every time Mo comes out to pitch this year it’s must-see TV for any fan of baseball.

Eddard

What a treat we get this year watching Andy and Mo’s swan song. It couldn’t be more fitting that Andy gets this team in the win column and Mo gets the save.

In honor of Mo’s last season, they should simply BLAST that shit at the stadium. Like, concrete shifting volume. I mean, like 11 times louder than they normally do. That would be the beginning of my idea of a tribute.

Kramerica Industries

not a strike? what?

Robinson Tilapia

I really wanted my comeback strikeout there.

jjyank

Uhhhh anyone else ahd MLB.TV shit the bed?

jjyank

Back now. It froze for a good 2-3 minutes on me.

Tom

Zone seems to have shrunk… Dempster was getting that call off the plate most of the time he was in there.

A reputation walk? And that 3rd strike that was 8 inches outside was what, exactly?

http://twitter.com/Paddock9652 Stratman9652

Jackie Bradley Jr. just got Mo’d.

Get Phelps Up

Striking out Jackie Ciriaco on 3 pitches was a pretty good way to end it.

jjyank

Haha.

Robinson Tilapia

Dare I say, the perfect baseball game. The perfect game thread.

Yankee Fucking Baseball is back.

King George

Amen

jjyank

+1

Cool Lester Smooth

Stupid religion essay due at midnight making me miss the game…

Improbable Island’s Dirty Midget Whores (Formerly RRR)

Nah. It would only be perfect if Mo hadn’t given up the run. ALMOST perfect.

Luis Castillo (Not the one who dropped the ball)

A hit by el Capitan was the only thing missing.

Good ol’ day’d

jjyank

I’m not gonna lie, I stood up from my couch and clapped like everyone else at the stadium for that last pitch.

Dela G

finally, a win

TCMiller30

Mo says: “welcome to the big leagues Jackie. Now now to your king!”

Vern Sneaker

That was fun. Bradley sure got a taste of Mo.

Barry

Mariano even goes and pounds some fans after the interview.

#Lastofadieingbreed

Anthony

I loved seeing that, Mo will always be my favorite athlete.

Barry

Me too, I’m sure I won’t be the only one talking about him until I die.

Jimmy McNulty

Man…after those first two games I’m just glad they didn’t get swept. Too happy to complain about the bad line up.

Robinson Tilapia

“I’M SO theystillsuck HAPPY!” – Jimmy McNulty

Jimmy McNulty

Hah!!! That’s pretty much how I feel. For the first time as a Yankee fan I’m worried that they might finish last, but whining about that is for the fan confidence poll, for which I am going to ask Mike if he can include a -70 as a choice.

But seriously, I’m happy they got the win, happy Pettitte got the W and Rivera got the save…I won’t get too many more of those. Against the Sox no less, good night. I dunno what I’m going to do when the bullpen doesn’t have Mo in it anymore and Jeter’s not playing shortstop. Worries for a different day, I guess.

This team pulled you off of a BOAT, Jimmy! Don’t you think that’s earned them a little bit of loyalty?!

jjyank

Love that quote by Mo on Andy’s start.

“What’d you think of Andy’s start”

“He was…he was Andy.”

trr

sorry to gush, but wasn’t it great to see Mo save it?

Robinson Tilapia

Chicken Soup for the Yankee Soul

Vern Sneaker

Man, I was into that game almost like it was a playoff game. Great win.

Dela G

Love Mo

Cool Lester Smooth

Games like this are why I made sure I would have Mo and Andy on my fantasy team.

jjyank

I have Andy on my fantasy team :)

https://twitter.com/Erica_Lynnnn Erica

Ditto on both accounts!

Bob Buttons

I’ll take a 2 ERA between them any day.

Now Batting

Are Yankees games not blacked out on MLBtv if you live in Manhattan? The OP says available nationally but everywhere else I’m reading says black outs still exist. Would appreciate a quick answer since I need to sign up for cable/internet, thanks!